Medical Assistant Pharmacology
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For medical assistants who need to brush up on certain areas in pharmacology as it applies to the medical office.
Page Sequence:Administering Medications
Subject Navigation:Administering Medications
Medical Assistants Don't "Give" Medications:
 Consider the following:As a trained healthcare professional you should make a conscious effort to erase the verb �give" a medication from your vocabulary.
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When it comes to medications they are either administered, or dispended, not given! Administration means that the medication is actually placed into a person's body, usually by mouth or injection, dispensed means you handed medication over to a person to whom it was prescribed.
Always check the medication�s actions, side effects, and patient allergies prior to administering or dispensing a prescribed medication. If you administer or dispense it you may be held partially or fully responsible even though the physician might have ordered it!!!!!Always make sure that the bottles are labeled clearly and that you understand the dose, frequency, and duration of the drug. Also, don't forget to check the expiration date! Also, ask yourself right now what you would do if you look up a medication and find it is contraindicated for your patient�s condition!
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Reordering Medications:Medications have a limited shelf live, as indicated by their expiration dates. Medical office staff, including the medical assistant is responsible for frequently checking these expiration dates and disposing of expired medications. Expired medications should never be dispensed to patients!
A complete inventory of medications in the office must be done at least every two years to comply with federal narcotics laws.Careful! Many medicatin names look and sound alike!
Pharmacy Sales Reps
When working in a medical office you will find that numerous different pharmaceutical sales representatives (also referred to as drug reps) will show up to educate the medical staff on their latest products and drop off their medication samples.
It is good practice to set up a certain time for them to arrive. It is customary that only one at the time will be allowed in to check the shelves and leave their samples in a designated area. It is expected that they also take expired samples back to dispose of them properly, if asked.
Needless to say, the pharmacy sales representative is not allowed direct entry to the clinical areas, or access to the medication closet unless accompanied by one of the medical office staff!!!
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Medication Disposal:
Medications must be checked regularly and disposed of properly when they expire. Liquids, ointment, and powders may be opened an poured down the drain. Tablets and capsules may be flushed down the toilet. Two employees should be present whenever medications are being destroyed. Legally, this provides a witness, and both signatures should be recorded in case that verification of this procedure should ever be required.
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About the Author:
My name is Danni R.. I have created this extensive resource in my capacity as certified medical assistant (CMA, CCMA, and CMAA) and medical assisting instructor at Porter & Chester Institute, Ultrasound Diagnostic School, and Branford Hall in 2003. I currently teach Medical Assisting: Principlesof Patient Care, Basics of Medical Terminology, Anatomy: Review of the Human Body online at UniversalClass.com. You mayalso visit my other websites at Advanced Medical Assistant of America, Medical Assistant Net, Medical Billing and Coding Net,Medical Coding and Billing Home Page, or Professionals in Phlebotomy to get better acquainted with me and my work!
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